Giddy up! Bangalore girl gets jockey licence in the US

Aparna Das, student of a city college, has earned the distinction of becoming the first Indian woman to get a jockey’s licence in the US.

This student of Mount Carmel College developed her passion for horse riding at Bangalore Amateur Riding Institute (BARI) in the Bangalore Turf Club. Thrilled by the experience, Das decided to take up the profession of living with horsepower.

It was  under the watchful eyes of captain Gautam Surender, former trainer at BARI, that she learnt the art. Sinclair Marshall, a former ace saddle artiste who is living in Canada, says Das went through a lot of struggle to get the jockey’s licence in the US. He describes her as a talented as well as hardworking girl. He says her distinction has made the entire Indian jockey fraternity proud.
When she decided to take up jockeying as a profession, she felt the need to train under an international expert. That was when she learnt about jockey Chris McCarron’s NARA, a two-year programme. Here, she got a chance to work with some of the best trainers. She told DNA she took up freelancing as it gave her the opportunity to work with acclaimed trainers. It has been physically and mentally exhausting, she recalls.

Down but not out
Competing for the leading apprentice title in September in Delaware at Laurel Park, Das met with an accident and injured her back. Since then, she has been out of racing and is undergoing therapy.

“This incident happened. So what! It does not discourage me. I will soon be back, saddling these beautiful animals,” she says with determination.